Henschel, (Isidor) Georg (later George) (1850–1934)

German-born British baritone, conductor, pianist, and composer. He appeared as a pianist in Berlin in 1862 and as a singer at Hirschberg in 1866. After studying in Leipzig, where he sang Hans Sachs in a concert performance, and in Berlin, he appeared at the Lower Rhine Festival in 1874, sang Christus in St Matthew Passion under Brahms in 1875, and sang for the first time in England in 1877. He remained there until 1881, when he married the US soprano Lillian Bailey and became conductor of the new Boston Symphony Orchestra. In 1884 he settled in London and organized various orchestral and choral concerts, also conducting the Scottish Orchestra 1893–95. His wife died in 1901 and he married Amy Louis in 1907. He sang again in England and on the Continent, often accompanying himself, and gave his last recital in London in 1914, when he was knighted.

Works operas Friedrich der Schöne and Nubia (produced in Dresden in 1899); operetta A Sea Change; incidental music for Shakespeare's Hamlet; English Mass for eight voices, Te Deum, Stabat Mater (1894), Requiem (1901), Psalm cxxx, anthems; Festival March for orchestra; Ballade for violin and orchestra; string quartet in B♭ major; many piano works; numerous songs (some with orchestra).